KENPO GIRL

It has been over a year since I got back on the mat and continued my study of Kenpo Karate. ​

I was so enthusiastic to be back on the mat as an adult and to have a new and mature perspective of martial arts. As you advance in our system, our self-defense begins to focus on complicated attacks from an attacker with martial arts training. It’s natural and crucial when we discuss these attacks that we discuss the systems they would originate from. For the longest time that was the only exposure I had to other systems and Dojos.

Then one day a group of us students were invited by my instructor to accompany him to Oregon to participate in a seminar. This was the first time I had ever been to another dojo. I loved speaking to the students; discussing techniques, sparring, and our general love of Martial Arts.​

It was my inspiration to start Kenpo Girl. ​

My extended Kenpo family in Toledo, Oregon.

My ultimate goal being to create not only a forum for different Martial Artists to discuss their love for the art but also to expand my education. I have had the honor of meeting Martial Artists in Kung-Fu, Hungar Kung-Fu, American Kenpo, Kempo, Muay Thai, Sumo and even professional mixed martial artists.​

Yet I hadn’t had the opportunity to speak with anyone from the Taekwondo system. ​

I jumped on the opportunity to travel to San Francisco and meet Rick St. Clair a 7th Dan in Taekwondo, owner of St. Clair's Taekwondo and distributor of Don “The Dragon” Wilson's t-shirt line called Traditionz.​

Kenpo Girl & Rick St. Clair at St. Clair Taekwondo

I knew next to nothing about Taekwondo...

Accept, that they are dominantly known for Kicks and competing in the Olympics. I had grown up in Martial Arts somewhat skeptical of Taekwondo.

When Taekwondo or TKD was ever brought up I found myself wondering the following:

If the study of Taekwondo was limited to a certain age and body type?

How could it be considered an effective form of self-defense if you only kick?

​

That could knock anyone out.

One of the reasons I study American Kenpo is because I have always felt anyone can participate and learn Kenpo. We have students that start at age 4 and others at 50. At our dojo students can vary in size from Heavy weights to bean poles. I found myself questioning Taekwondo because of their kicks, especially head kicks, require a large range of flexIbility.

So would being a contortionist or gymnast be a prerequisite?

​When I met up with Mr. St. Clair at his dojang (dojang is Korean for dojo) in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco. He had brought two of his black belts to do demonstrations for me. As they demonstrated some of their stretching and spinning kicks Mr. St. Clair clarified for me,“Any kick in any system can work and it doesn't have to be a high kick. However flexibility does help so we do spend quite a bit of time stretching.”

I think it’s safe to say any system should support stretching because Martial Arts is not just about hitting people but also physically and mentally preserving your body. Yet for Taekwondo, when you add in the competitions, stretching becomes a necessity.

The majority of my education on Taekwondo is based off of Taekwondo’s #1 publicity... The Olympics.

Taekwondo first appeared in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea as a demo but wouldn’t be accepted as an Olympic sport until the 2000, Sydney Olympics. The most recent buzz in the martial arts community was Karate being accepted for the 2020 Tokyo, Japan Olympics. There are currently only 4 martial arts represented in the olympics: Taekwondo, Judo, Wrestling and Greco-Style Wrestling. ​

With Karate being added into the mix, would the popularity of Taekwondo decrease and would there be a decrease of students drawn to Taekwondo? ​

​Mr. St. Clair said he had been disappointed in the caliber of fights in the Taekwondo section of the Olympics this year in 2016 but was reassuring that,​“I don't feel Karate being introduced to the Olympics would affect the popularity of Taekwondo. In fact, I’m confident Taekwondo will always be in the Olympics and am excited about karate being in it.”​

The art will forever more be engraved with Olympic history...

Yet the art was originally formed for self-defense during the 1940s and 50s as a combination of Karate, different Chinese and Korean Martial Arts. Within that period of time, Taekwondo was not only created into a National sport but also adapted for use in the South Korean Military. During the Vietnam war, American veterans became exposed to TKD due to its high almost cultish popularity in South Vietnam. Over the years, TKD has had some adjustments due to the military influence by adding more lethal elements to the art.

Captain Nam Tae Hi, standing at the microphone, directs a taekwondo demonstration in 1958 for members of the National Armed Forces of Korea

Nonetheless, ​Mr. St. Clair’s students are not militants but regular teenagers who want to better defend themselves on the streets. He has adapted their training by exposing his students to other systems and styles,​“I make sure my students have a plan B, we do ground fighting as well as weapons training. If they (his students) has to pick up a stick, they know how to use it.”

​

Two of Rick St. Clair's students:Ms. Kaela Lee, 17 years old & 1st DanMr. Daniel Uribe, 16 years old & Black belt.

​Mr. St. Clair has his students do some cross training but he is adamant they do not forget the history or culture behind TKD. He requires his students to not only know the history of TKD but the language. All students must learn cues and basic parts of the Korean language as well as the history of their art to earn their black belt. In Martial Arts, there will always be knowledge passed down from generation to generation, regardless of their system or rank.

The South Korean flag has become vastly associated with TKD.

This is the one thing that McDojos are unable to duplicate...

McDojo’s are known fake dojos that attempt to mimic real Dojo’s in various systems to exploit students for money. McDojo’s base their knowledge and education off of YouTube videos and popular choreographed martial arts films and there is no understanding or background knowledge to the history of the system/style or the theory of the physical or mental application of the art.

We have to remember that although we might achieve black belt, the lessons will never end...

That’s the beauty of Martial Arts and the journey we have chosen to travel. This is also something to take into consideration when searching for a proper Dojang or Dojo. Anytime a Martial Artist tries to tell you that time and tradition isn’t an element in earning a black belt...​​You should tuck tail and run.

I would really like to thank Mr. Rick St. Clair for inviting me to his Dojang and enlightening me on the Taekwondo system.​

Excellent job Ms. Jesa, I truly enjoyed reading this article it seems to me that ur visit was very productive and a postive experience for you. Reading up on other systems or styles allows us all to better understand what else is out there. I for one respect ur hard work and due diligence to inform us all. A salute to Mr. Rick St. Clair for opening his dojang and to his black belts for assisting him. God bless u all.

Reply

Chris Mulligan

12/8/2016 06:19:02 am

It is great that you are looking to explore the World of Taekwondo, but please do not confuse WTF (Olympic style) with authentic Traditional Tae Kwon-Do, the original way the art was taught in the Korean Military.

If you are truly interested in learning more about TKD, I suggest you check out other styles of TKD: Independant non wtf groups, Chang Hon Style, ITF style, Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon-Do.

If you are ever in the Kitchener, Ontario area, we would be happy to have you visit our dojang and see a different style of TKD.

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Jesalyn Mae Harper

Hello my name is Jesalyn. I'm a divorced single mom and a karate addict...I am currently a 1st Brown belt in American Kenpo and a Junior Instructor at Double Dragon Kenpo Karate under JR Diaz, I am part of the Parker/Planas Lineage and study Karbaroan Eskrima with JR Diaz, under Guro Ed Planas